Sunday, March 2, 2014

Virginia's View Challenge # 1

Welcome to our new challenge blog! Please make yourself at home. Now that we have a brand new blog, there will be special features and discussions. Yes, this is more than a challenge blog, I want it to be a place that you like to hang out... I am super excited! Yours truly, Virginia~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Happy March, my friends! It's another NEW month, new idea and new post here! I have been thinking about having a regular challenge in my little old blog in the last while. It all started right after Cath made her announcement that she is leaving Moxie Fab. I missed Cath and her witty and beautiful posts. One of them was the regular Tuesday Trigger. I miss how the inspiring photo prompted us to make something different and out of our norm. I truly miss that! I am not trying to do what Cath did, but I think we can continue to be inspired by the essence from Tuesday Trigger. So, with that in mind, I am going to try to do a monthly challenge!Introducing.... Virginia's View Challenge!

On top of the inspiration photo, I will also add arequired technique or element (for example, masking, distressing, embossing....etc.). For this month, I am adding my new latest love-water-coloring!

Why water-coloring, you ask? As a stamper, I have never thought I could/would use water-coloring in stamped cards because I am not artistic and talented enough. However, with some amazing stamps, this goal can be somehow achieved! Last year, water-coloring was all the rage! It can be seen in web designs, fashion, advertisement, packaging...etc. Perhaps I am also craving for colors as it has been a long, miserable and harsh winter here in North America.These are my humble goals that I am aiming to achieve:

1. to foster the love of stamping/card making among the on line community

2. to grow as a stamper/card-maker regardless of level and experience

3. to make new friends and encourage the camaraderie amongst the participants/blog followers.

The challenge will run for 3 weeks and there will be a SPOTLIGHT feature on the 25th. In this feature, I will be highlighting a few of the participants' work. We can all be oohing and aahing about a WOW design that needs to be admired and appreciated. You are encouraged to link up as many as projects as you like. Cards, scrapbook layouts, altered projects... anything with paper, stamps and inks involved are welcome! If the linked project is not related to the challenge, it will be deleted. Don't have a blog? No problem! Any link (Flickr, FB page, Splitcoaststampers...) is welcome! Your project can be inspired by any of the inspiration photos or/and has to do with water-coloring . The sky is the limit!

Sounds good? Here is my latest take on this challenge!Supplies: distress inks, TH water brush by Ranger, Basic Grey paper, gold strings ( Michael's), Hero Arts Stamp, SRM Stickers (bottom sentiment) Here are my other cards with water-coloring to get you inspired... I hope this challenge will get your creative juices flowing (with water, of course!!)!

Here are a few things that I have learned:

1. plan ahead ( choose your colors and images, if possible)

2. use water-color paper (the thicker ,the better)

3. do some testing. Play around with some colors and see what suits your design

4. control the amount of water (the more water you add, the less intense the color is).

5. once you have the right paper and paint brushes...you are all set! Just. have. fun.

If there is enough interest (say, over 10,15, 20...entries), I promise that there will a V.V. Challenge #2 in the works for April and beyond.

Thanks for stopping by!edited: I have created a Facebook page, you can get the latest update there as well. You can like ithere!

Haha! Virginia, did you ever have any doubt that your challenge would be a hit? I have made a card, I just have to get around to blogging it. I love your new challenge, and I look forward to VV Challenge #2 and beyond. :-)

I'm so happy you've started a Challenge Blog, Virginia...and really happy that it's become successful so quickly! I'm working on my submissions right now, and looking forward to future ideas and inspiration! Congrats to you!!!

Hi Virginia, I came to you from Desert Diva and it's so exciting to find a NEW challenge blog. And already you have tons of people!!! Congrats!!! Now I have to go make mine and link up. Wishing you well...

Absolutely swooning over your gorgeous creations Virginia, and all of the beautiful entries so far! I really hope to play along soon!! Watercolor is my favorite! Congratulations on this fun new challenge.

Hooray, Virginia!!! Congrats on your new challenge blog! I love it!!! Your watercolor creations are beautiful! Thank you for the inspiration!!!! I'm going to be traveling for the next few days but hope to try out your watercolor challenge when I return!!!

Virginia, I finally linked up my projects. Sorry it took so long and some how my cards description showed up instead of my name. I must did something wrong. Oh, well. Thanks for your brand new challenge.

The cards that have been submitted are totally awesome! I love checking back daily for new ideas. Congrats Virginia, you have inspired a lot of people with your new challenge. I wouldn't want to narrow these entries down to just five! Good luck and THANK YOU!

Holy smokes, Virginia!!! I came by to check out how your challenge is going, and it's up to 359 entries!! That has got to be an all-time record, seriously!!! I don't know of any challenge, even the Moxie Fab/Paper Crafts challenges that had that many. Well, I hope you can set aside several days to wade through all the entries ... you're going to need it!! Best of luck : )

Terrific new challenge site & love your watercolor bird card YOU created! I want to feature your card for upcoming Trendy Tuesday post for the blog at Paper Crafters Library. You can ck out the blog here: http://blog.papercrafterslibrary.com/The post featuring your project will credit you & link back to your blog as well. If you do not wish to be featured, just let me know.

How to Play

This monthly card-making challenge blog will run for 18 days and there will be a SPOTLIGHT feature of Top 10 Favorites on the 25th. Any style and levels are most welcome!

Goals:

1. to foster the love of stamping/card making among the on line community

2. to grow as a stamper/card-maker regardless of level and experience

3. to make new friends and encourage the camaraderie amongst the participants/blog followers.

You are encouraged to link up as many as projects as you like. Cards with paper, stamps and inks involved are welcome! If the linked project is not related to the challenge, it will be deleted. Don't have a blog? No problem! Any link (Flickr, FB page, Splitcoaststampers, Pinterest...) is welcome!

The Top 5 selection criteria will be based on: 1. Originality (30%)2. Execution (30%)3. Craftsmanship (20%)4. Presentation (10%) 5. Wow factor (10%)Among the Top 10 Fav, there will be a random draw for a lucky (and talented) winner who will then receive the top prize. In order to qualify for the top prize, your project has to be NEW (not linking back to a previously made project). You are welcome to combine other challenges, please limit to your total number of challenges no more than 4.

Copyright

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Virginia's View Challenge with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you.